For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the Lord is not just "great," but "greatly to be praised," suggesting our praise should match His immeasurable greatness. Furthermore, "feared above all gods" points out that other deities are mere "nothings" or idols, while the Lord is the true, powerful Creator.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins with a call for all the earth to sing a "new song" of praise to God as King, emphasizing that this is a global message, not just for Israel. The following verses declare God's supreme greatness and worthiness of worship, contrasting Him with the worthless idols of other nations, which sets the stage for recognizing His universal authority. This proclamation of God's unparalleled majesty and power is foundational to the psalm's subsequent call for all creation to rejoice in His reign.
We often talk about how 'great' God is, but do we truly grasp what that means? This verse calls us to a profound realization about His unique and unparalleled greatness.
Psalm 96:4 begins with a powerful declaration: 'For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised.' This isn't just a casual compliment; it's a foundational truth about God's very being.
Unmatched in Being
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The verse commands us to fear the LORD 'above all gods.' What does this 'fear' mean, and why is it reserved only for Him?
The second part of Psalm 96:4 makes a crucial distinction: 'he is to be feared above all gods.' This isn't about a cowering, paralyzing terror. It's about a reverent awe and acknowledgment of supreme authority.
The True Object of Awe
Understand the original words
yare · Hebrew Verb
A reverential, deep awe and trembling respect for God's holiness and power, leading to obedience and worship.
Psalm 96, with its resounding declaration of the LORD's greatness and supremacy over all 'gods,' likely emerged from the post-exilic period. This was a time when the people of God were keenly aware of their identity in contrast to the surrounding nations, having experienced both the consequences of idolatry and the liberation of returning to worship the true King in their restored Temple.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecies
Prophet Isaiah's writings warn against the futility of idol worship and proclaim the LORD's singular greatness as Creator and King over all nations, setting a precedent for this psalm's themes.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the exile, Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem. This period marks a renewed emphasis on worship of the LORD as King and a rejection of the surrounding nations' gods.
c. 538-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
The reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem serves as a powerful symbol of the LORD's restored presence and kingship, reinforcing the idea of His supremacy over all other deities.
Post-Exilic Period— this verse
Psalm 96 Composition
This psalm is likely composed or finalized after the exile, celebrating the LORD's kingship and calling all nations to worship Him, contrasting His supreme reality with the emptiness of idols.
c. 200 BC - AD 70
Second Temple Period
During this era, the understanding of the LORD's universal kingship and the worship described in Psalm 96 would have been continually reinforced through Temple practice and prophetic interpretation.
This passage is a direct quotation and expands on the idea that the Lord is great and deserves praise above all other 'gods,' echoing the sentiment of Psalms 96:4.
Deuteronomy 7:21This verse emphasizes the Lord's greatness and fearsomeness compared to other deities, aligning with the psalmist's assertion that the Lord is to be feared above all gods.
Isaiah 40:9This prophetic passage calls for proclaiming glad tidings about God's reign and power, similar to how Psalms 96 calls for a new song of praise to the great and supreme Lord.
Romans 8:38-39This New Testament passage speaks of the unshakeable power and love of God, reinforcing the psalmist's view of the Lord's unparalleled greatness and supremacy over all created things.
Philippians 2:9-11This passage describes God exalting Jesus to the highest name, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord, which parallels the psalmist's call for all nations to acknowledge the greatness and sovereignty of the Lord above all false gods.
bensonPsalms 96:4: "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."
Psalm 96:4-6 . For the Lord — Hebrew, Jehovah, is great — Infinite in his nature and attributes; and greatly to be praised — All our most exalted praises fall infinitely short of his greatness. He is to be feared above all gods — The gods of the heathen, as the next words expound it. For all the gods of the nations are idols — Or, nothing, as they are called 1 Corinthians 8:4 ; 1 Corinthians 10:1…
clarkePsalms 96:4: "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."
He is to be feared above all gods - I think the two clauses of this verse should be read thus: - Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised. Elohim is to be feared above all. I doubt whether the word אלהים Elohim is ever, by fair construction, applied to false gods or idols. The contracted form in the following verse appears to have this meaning.
The verse highlights that the Lord is not just "great," but "greatly to be praised," suggesting our praise should match His immeasurable greatness. Furthermore, "feared above all gods" points out that other deities are mere "nothings" or idols, while the Lord is the true, powerful Creator.
This psalm begins with a call for all the earth to sing a "new song" of praise to God as King, emphasizing that this is a global message, not just for Israel. The following verses declare God's supreme greatness and worthiness of worship, contrasting Him with the worthless idols of other nations, which sets the stage for recognizing His universal authority. This proclamation of God's unparalleled majesty and power is foundational to the psalm's subsequent call for all creation to rejoice in His reign.
This psalm begins with a call for all the earth to sing a "new song" of praise to God as King, emphasizing that this is a global message, not just for Israel. The following verses declare God's supreme greatness and worthiness of worship, contrasting Him with the worthless idols of other nations, which sets the stage for recognizing His universal authority. This proclamation of God's unparalleled majesty and power is foundational to the psalm's subsequent call for all creation to rejoice in His reign.
"For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." — The verse highlights that the Lord is not just "great," but "greatly to be praised," suggesting our praise should match His immeasurable greatness. Furthermore, "feared above all gods" points out tha…
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Last reviewed October 2026